Review of NHS prescription charges and exemption arrangements in Scotland - analysis of responses

The Scottish Executive Health Department has published the findings of the public consultation on the Review of NHS Prescription Charges and Exeption Arrangements in Scotland.

The consultation took place between January and June 2006 and comprised three main strands: an omnibus survey module, a written public consultation and focus groups with key patient groups.

Included in the report are areas of consensus such as:

• exemption should not be based on a list of drugs
• there should be further exemption on the basis of low income
• the revised system should be administratively straightforward and easy for patients to understand
• if medical exemption continues, the list of exempt medical conditions should be reviewed

and areas of disagreement such as:

• whether there should be a reduced flat fee
• whether students and trainees should be exempt, regardless of their ability to pay
• whether exemption on medical grounds alone should continue
• whether there should be a monetary cap

The document is available on the VHS website at:
href="http://www.vhscotland.org.uk/library/executive/exec_pub.html#prescription
and the Scottish Executive website at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/26105037/0

This news item was taken from the Vhsscotland May e-News (2007).